in his command. The confederates fought with desperation, and
with their usual "no quarter," because, as Forrest alleges, the Phalanx
regiments meant to retaliate for his previous massacre of the blacks at
Fort Pillow. Seeking to justify the inhuman treatment of his black
prisoners, he wrote as follows to General Washburn, commanding the
District of West Tennessee:

"It has been reported to me that all of your colored troops
stationed in Memphis took, on their knees, in the presence
of Major General Hurlburt and other officers of your army,
an oath to avenge Fort Pillow, and that they would show my
troops no quarter. Again I have it from indisputable
authority that the troops under Brigadier General Sturgis on
their recent march from Memphis, publicly, and in many
places, proclaimed that no quarter would be shown my men. As
they were moved into action on the 10th they were exhorted
by their officers to remember Fort Pillow. The prisoners we
have captured from that command, or a large majority of
them, have voluntarily stated that they expected us to
murder them, otherwise they would have surrendered in a body
rather than have taken to the bushes after being run down
and exhausted."

The massacre at Fort Pillow had a very different effect upon the black
soldiers than it was doubtless expected to have. Instead of weakening
their courage it stimulated them to a desire of retaliation; not in the
strict sense of that term, but to fight with a determination to subdue
and bring to possible punishment, the men guilty of such atrocious
conduct. Had General Sturgis been competent of commanding, Forrest would
have found himself and his command no match for the Phalanx at Guntown
and Brice's Cross Roads. Doubtless Forrest was startled by the reply of
General Washburn, who justly recognized the true impulse of the Phalanx.
He replied to Forrest, June 19, 1864, as follows:

"You say in your letter that it has been reported to you
that all the negro troops stationed in Memphis took an oath,
on their knees, in the presence of Major General Hurlburt
and other officers of our army, to avenge Fort Pillow and
that they would show your troops no quarter. I believe it is
true that the colored troops did take such an oath, but not
in the presence of General Hurlburt. From what I can learn
this act of theirs was not influence